"AN ACT CONCERNING A PET LEMON LAW AND THE RELEASE OF RABIES VACCINATION RECORDS TO ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS.
"

Strike sections 1 and 2 in their entirety and renumber the remaining sections and internal references accordingly

After the last section, add the following and renumber sections and internal references accordingly:

"Sec.
501.
Section 22-344b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) A pet shop licensee shall, prior to offering a dog or cat for sale and thereafter at intervals of fifteen days until such dog or cat is sold, provide for examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384.
[The]Such licensee shall maintain a record of the veterinary services rendered for each dog or cat offered for sale.

(b)If, (1) within [fifteen]twenty days of sale, any such dog or cat becomes ill or dies of any illness which existed in such dog or cat at the time of the sale, or (2) within six months of sale, any such dog or cat is diagnosed with a congenital defect that adversely affects or will adversely affect the health of such dog or cat, such licensee shall, at the option of the consumer, replace the dog or cat or refund in full the purchase price of such dog or cat:
[(1)](A) In the case of illness or such congenital defect, upon return of the dog or cat to the pet shop and the receipt of a certificate from a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 and selected by the consumer, stating that the dog or cat is ill from a condition which existed at the time of sale, or suffers from such congenital defect, and [(2)](B) in the case of death, the receipt of a certificate from a veterinarian licensed under [said] chapter 384 and selected by the consumer, stating that the dog or cat died from an illness or a congenital defect which existed at the time of sale.
Any costs for services and medications provided by a licensed veterinarian incurred by the consumer for such illness or such congenital defect shall be reimbursed to the consumer by such licensee in an amount not to exceed [two]five hundred dollars.
The presentation of such certificate shall be sufficient proof to claim reimbursement or replacement and the return of such deceased dog or cat to the pet shop shall not be required.
No such refund or replacement shall be made if such illness or death resulted from maltreatment or neglect by a person other than the licensee [, his]or such licensee's agent or employee.
A licensee shall not be subject to the obligations imposed by this subsection for the sale of a cat where such cat has been spayed or neutered prior to its sale.

(c)A licensee who violates any provision of this section shall forfeit to the state a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars for each animal which is the subject of the violation.
The Attorney General, upon complaint of the commissioner, may institute a civil action in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to recover the forfeiture specified in this section.

Sec.
502.
Section 22-354 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) Any dog or cat imported into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued no earlier than thirty days prior to the date of importation by a licensed, graduate veterinarian stating that such dog or cat is free from symptoms of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, and that such dog or cat, if three months of age or older, is currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
A copy of such health certificate shall be forwarded promptly to the commissioner from the livestock sanitary official of the state of origin.
Any dog or cat originating from a rabies quarantine area [must]shall have permission of the State Veterinarian prior to importation into this state.
No person, firm or corporation shall import or export for the purposes of sale or offering for sale any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks unless such dog or cat is transported with its dam and no person, firm or corporation shall sell within the state any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks.
Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this [section]subsection or bringing any dog or cat into this state from an area under quarantine for rabies shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

(b) Any dog sold or offered for sale by a pet shop licensee in this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of origin identifying the name and address of the person, firm or corporation that bred such dog and of any person, firm or corporation that sold such dog to such pet shop licensee. Such information contained in the certificate of origin shall be posted in a conspicuous manner not more than ten feet from the location where such dog is displayed for sale. A copy of such certificate shall be provided to the purchaser of such dog at the time of sale and shall be filed by such licensee with the Department of Agriculture not later than two days after such sale. No pet shop licensee shall purchase a dog or cat for resale from a breeder or other person, firm or corporation located outside of this state that is not in possession of a current license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture and any applicable state agency. Any pet shop licensee violating the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, for each violation. Each day a pet shop licensee is in violation of this subsection shall constitute a separate offense."